Whitman Expo
1925 Norse American Medal PR Gold Values
Details
The 1925 Norse medal is an unmonetized octagonal-shaped silver piece honoring the centennial of the Norwegian ship Restauration arriving in America. The ship carried many Norwegian who went on to lead successful lives in their new homeland, with a great number of these immigrants settling in Minnesota. The piece was intended by its Congressional champion, Ole J. Kvale, to be a commemorative half dollar, but with so many already commemoratives already approved during the year, a medal became the likeliest option for authorization. Variations of the medal were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
100 examples of the Norse commemortive medals were struck in gold with the proof format. 53 coins were unsold and subsequently melted leaving just 47 coins distributed to the public. Quite rare and also quite beautiful.
Obverse: Viking warrior in horned helmet with sword and shield advances from dragon ship, inscription NORSE AMERICAN CENTENNIAL above, dated 1825 - 1925 in the field.
Reverse: Dragon ship sailing right under four-line inscription, AUTHORIZED BY / CONGRESS OF THE / UNITED STATES / OF AMERICA with date of Leif Erikson's discovery below, A.D. 1000.
Source: Stack's Bowers
Mint & Coinage Details
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
47
Coinage Type:
Classic Commemorative
Coinage Years:
1893-1954
Composition:
90% gold; 10% copper
Varieties and Classification
Variety:
Norse American
Variety 2:
Gold
Physical Characteristics
Fineness:
0.9
Weight:
15.6 gr
Strike Type:
Proof
Coin Shape:
Octagonal
Design Details
Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Obverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Reverse Lettering:
AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A.D. 1000.
Reverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
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